KCE Announces Long Range Plans For Auburn Township Park
Phase One development of Auburn Township's first park is moving smoothly, with plans for multi-purpose ball fields, a storage building and walking trails,…
Phase One development of Auburn Township’s first park is moving smoothly, with plans for multi-purpose ball fields, a storage building and walking trails, Kenston Community Education officials told township trustees Monday.
The park, on the former 68-acre Cathan Farm on Munn Road and Washington Street, has been in the planning stage since 2011.
Trustees and KCE officials have been working together to build three ball fields on a flat, open 30 acres of the property.
The Western Reserve Land Conservancy has an easement for the heavily wooded remainder of the property, which will be used for walking trails.
“I’m like a kid in a candy store,” KCE Director Jennifer Holzheimer said. “It’s a great piece of land. It’s flat. I’m very excited to be part of this, turning a farm into a community park.”
The first phase will include three ball fields that can be marked for different sports and levels, storage shed for equipment, a picnic area and a parking lot, Holzheimer told trustees.
She assured them the park’s active areas were planned to be as far as possible from neighboring homes.
“We’re hoping to keep a rural feel to this park. The 30 acres is a big place. It’s gorgeous out there,” she said
So far, trustees have put in a $100,000 construction driveway, financed by state grant money.
They hope to develop the park over the next few years, as funding permits.
KCE officials plan to seed three fields that will be ready for use in about two years.
The township will mow the fields, but KCE will maintain them for their use, Holzheimer said.
“The plans look doable,” Trustee John Eberly said, adding the township will now apply to the county for any needed permits.
He said electric lines will be installed in the spring and construction will begin soon after that.
Trustee Mike Troyan asked Holzheimer whether the plans include a playground.
“That’s Phase Three,” Holzheimer told him. “There are a lot of laws we’ll have to pay attention to. The Timmons playground was incredibly expensive (for that reason).”
KCE Board President David Parker said the organization would raise funds and seek donations for the playground.
Trustee P.J. Cavanagh said not every parent is involved in athletics.
“Down the road, we’d like to put in walking paths,” Parker told him.
Eberly said scouts might help with development of the trails, which could expand an existing path through the woods.
“It’s going to be a big opportunity for them,” the trustee said. “This community is fortunate to have a lot of active scout troops.”
Eberly said a 2012 community survey indicated a great need for a park in the township.
“It was the most asked-for thing in Auburn Township,” Eberly said. “We look forward to working with KCE, which has done a stellar job in providing recreation (opportunities) at all levels.”
Trustees said that, because the park is being developed naturally with grass seeding instead of sod, it would take at least two growing seasons for the fields to be ready for use.
Holzheimer estimated the fields would be useable by the fall of 2015.
“We’ll send the drawings up to the county building department to get the process started,” Eberly said.
